How often do you see your therapist?

I'm currently switching from twice a week to once a week.

Is it your choice to cut back?

Usually once a week...but every so often twice. I am in a rocky patch right now so we have talked about bumping up my sessions.

We usually have three sessions in a row (once a week) and then skip a week (which I hate and don't understand, but would never say anything about).

I saved money while my T was away but I've spent it all now.
Back to what I can afford!

That's an interesting idea.

We were usually once a week, but have now gone to every other week because things are going well.

Every other week. Until, you know, September, when it changes to NOT AT ALL.

I see mine once a week, a few years ago she mentioned going up to twice a week, I always thought that 1 two hour session would be better than 2 one hour sessions, but that is just me, and neither my therapist or insurance company agreed with me.

When I first started last summer I saw her once a week. Then once school started (I as a TA) I had to cut back to once every 2 weeks as I couldn't get off work every week. Sometimes if it fell in a FCAT week or T was out of town I would go 3 weeks, but that is rare. Now that school is out I may go back to every week, if I can get the insurance issue worked out, if T will agree to it.

I was going once a week for years, but then couldn't afford it any more and had to go to once every 2 weeks. But my T travels a lot teaching, so sometime's it's every 3 weeks which feels really long to me.

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It surprises me that some people only see there T once a week or less often due to financial difficulties.

My insurance only pays for one session, I pay the 20$ copay for two and the other one or two a week are free.
3-4 sessions per week... unlimited emails/phone calls. My T says I signed up for the unlimited plan.... I just rolled my eyes.

Honestly I don't think therapy should ever be just about money... like cmon if you don't have enough to go every week find someone who will reduce the price. How much could someone get out of going twice a month?

Once a week, occasionally twice a week if having a bad week.

Don't want to seem rude, Emptee, but are you aware that most people do not have the extra money to see a therapist? Most insurance companies will not even include mental health in their coverage, and if they do, they only pay for a limited amout of session.s And, if they can, they try to intimidate clients into not seeking mental health services!

Even if one has insurance with a copay, it usually means 20.00 or 40.00 a week extra. Now, say that you don't have that extra money because you're paying gas, rent, food, electric, water, sewage, garbage, child care fees, children's school clothing/school supplies etc? Therapy has really become a luxury item in the United States . .. and I know it is even worse in other countries. And with the way that medical health and mental health is being viewed in the US it is only going to get worse! People will NOT be able to access the services that they need. And many will go without. I'm not trying to be unreasonable, but people need to be aware that not all their neighbors have the same advantages they have when it comes to health insurance coverage.

I don't agree with you. I've been through quite a few therapists and all but one worked with me on the money issue.
I pay bills and have crappy insurance but hey, maybe the fact that I live in a big city has something to do with it(larger pool of providers). I didn't mean to be rude/offensive it just makes me pissed that people can't get the help they need because in new york city is just isn't as hard as other places I guess. More therapists need to do pro bono work!

A. You are assuming people want to go through stress and pain of leaving a therapist to go to a different one. Finding a therapist of quality who reduces fees is not as easy as you seem to believe. And some of us technically make too much money to qualify for those reduced fees even though the realities of our lives would really require a reduced fee if insurance was not an option.
B. I go twice a month now, and that works very well in my case. I get a great deal out of it. Going every other week is not a financial decision; it is just a choice. Every case is different. Most of us around here wouldn't want to see our T 4 times a week like you do, but that is apparently what works for you.

And make a living how? My T and I were talking about this recently. With the economy being what it is, therapy is an absolute financial luxury for most folk right now. The trickle down effect is that therapists are seeing fewer new patients come in, having more patients who are unable to pay, and their own finances (their business -- because I know we hate to hear this, but this IS how they pay their own bills) are really being stretched. There are only so many pro bono cases they can afford to take on. After all, they have mortgages to pay, groceries to buy, etc. just like the rest of us. They have the same real-life worries the rest of us do.

Ehh.. I still think it'd be difficult to develop a worthwhile relationship with a therapist if you only see them twice a month. But like you said, everyones different... some people trust easier. No ones ever seen mental health as a priority so I can't imagine its easy to get clients even with a healthy economy.

I guess I'm really confused by what you're saying, Emptty. I don't know a lot of people who post here or people I meet in real life, who WANT therapy but turn it down. Most have high fees or high copays. I listen to many people who ask and ask and ask and call and call and call different clinics and clinicans and investigate whether or not they can afford what is being offered. Most can't. Not because therapists are unfeeling or unprofessional. Mostly because therapy is expensive and the therapist can't offer too many pro bono cases . .. it sure doesn't pay, even in good times. what pro prono lawyers get paid!

I'm not sure what world you live in, but I'm guessing a "single professional world". WHy do I guess that? Because that's the world that I live in and I consider myself very very lucky that I have the insurance that I have. .. Not only do I have insurance that covers mental health, I have the option of a pre-tax flex plan that supplements my insurance. That makes long term mental health services affortable to me. I am smart enough to know that most individuals do NOT have that benefit!

Individuals who have not had the educational advantages that I have or have faced family obligations that infringe on economic demands, are faced with the reality that weekly mental health therapy is a true luxury . . . .The sad thing is that when we truly consider the ramifications of raising healthy happy children, it is NOT a luxury. .. it is a necessity!!! Just my take on things.

Don't know why I opened my mouth... no point in arguing with the highly educated.

Everyones an expert!!! Gotta love it

I just posted about this in my latest thread....and it's becoming a real struggle for me right now to justify therapy costs with my current situation.

I became a single mom, kept the house and mortgage, about 3 years ago...At the time, I made a decent living...but then went on disability about a year ago...and then when I returned to work 6 months later, I was let go.

I am currently on unemployment, working 1 day a week part time, hoping that someday it will become a full time position (which I just learned may happen later not sooner, if at all).

Therapy has been a necessity for me for the last 3 years. I can't imagine what my life would've been like had I not been in therapy...although I imagine I would've still been in an unhealthy marriage and maybe would've even still had my job. But, that's another story for another day....

I pay $40/week out of pocket for group therapy....and $30/week as a deductible for individual therapy, which is significant for me considering my current situation of trying to keep a roof over me and my daughter's heads, on 70% less income (not even counting when I was married in a two-income household).

My insurance caps out at 30 sessions/year, so by mid-August, I will have to pay at least $80 for my individual sessions. That would total $520/month in therapy costs. It's just not do-able on unemployment when you're a single mom with a mortgage.

As my savings has dwindled to an all-time scary low, I imagine that I am going to be faced very quickly with making a decision to discontinue therapy or reduce the duration.

I would not even consider seeing my T for free or for next to nothing. It would create an incredible imbalance in our relationship which is just not possible for me to accept or endure.

You have a very generous T.

New York is the birthplace of therapy in America. (Yes? No?)
Perhaps there is a surplus of therapists there?
Maybe finance industry patients are subsidising everyone else? (I don't have a problem with that!)

I go twice a month. It isn't a financial decision for me at all. I get a lot out of my therapy.

As a lawyer, when I take a case pro bono, I do not get paid anything for my time for that case.

There seem to be all types of arrangements with therapists and one hopes each person can get some of what will help them. It is rather presumptious to assume one can know what arrangements someone else should have. Many see therapists for reasons other than why I go, many see types of therapists I would not see, but I am certainly happy it is working for them. I see two therapists once a week. It is working better for me than just seeing one. I have the resources to be able to do it, including the ability to make choices which allow me to do it. Many do not have that for any number of reasons. And others would make different choices than I make. I like to think we can all respect choices and decisions we make even when we have different circumstances from each other.